The Lit & Phil

The Lit & Phil Opened in 1825, the Lit & Phil is the largest independent library outside London. All welcome.

If you would like to attend any of our events please contact us on the phone number or email address below. 'Attending' an event on our page will not ensure a place at the event itself.

26/08/2026

Due to insurmountable technical issues, this page is no longer being updated and will be our archive page. We found ourselves in a position where we were unable to add editors so we were left with just one person able to manage the page, which is not ideal. A lot of effort was made to change this but to no avail. For all future information, news and gems, please follow us at our new page at Lit & Phil Newcastle

Shakespeare Club at the Lit & PhilA group of us are going to resume our monthly meetings in which we discuss a Shakespe...
24/08/2026

Shakespeare Club at the Lit & Phil
A group of us are going to resume our monthly meetings in which we discuss a Shakespeare play that we have read over the previous month.
Our first meeting will be on THURSDAY 3rd SEPTEMBER at 6 pm. This will take place in the Swan Room, which is the first room on the left as you enter the Lit & Phil building.
We intend working our way through the plays in the order that they appear in the First Folio of 1623, starting with a discussion of 'The Tempest' on 3rd September, then 'Two Gentlemen of Verona' on 1st October etc.
All are welcome, so please turn up if you are interested, or register your interest by emailing Phil Burns on [email protected].

The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems... Hidden Gem | 637From 'A system of ana...
24/08/2026

The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems...
Hidden Gem | 637
From 'A system of anatomical plates of the human body' by John and W.H. Lizars. Published between 1822 and 1826.

JUST ANNOUNCED! Val McDermid and Jo SharpTuesday 22nd September 6pm - 7.30pm£12/£10Members' priority until 1 SeptemberV...
18/08/2026

JUST ANNOUNCED!
Val McDermid and Jo Sharp
Tuesday 22nd September 6pm - 7.30pm
£12/£10
Members' priority until 1 September

Val McDermid and Jo Sharp have joined forces to co-author the next novel in Polygon’s acclaimed Darkland Tales series. This Door of the Seas will be the seventh book in the series, which sees Scottish authors reimagine key moments from Scottish history, myth and legend.
https://www.litandphil.org.uk/event/val-mcdermid-and-jo-sharp-book-event/

The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems... Hidden Gem | 636From 'Lectures on Bot...
17/08/2026

The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems...
Hidden Gem | 636
From 'Lectures on Botany, as delivered in the Botanic Garden at Lambeth by the late William Curtis'. 1805. Vol II

The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems... Hidden Gem | 635From 'A Year at the S...
11/08/2026

The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems...
Hidden Gem | 635
From 'A Year at the Shore' by Philip Henry Gosse, F.R.S. 1865

Heritage Open Days Free Tours of the Lit & Phil Booking Now Open! Call 0191 232 0192 or email library@litandphil.org.uk ...
10/08/2026

Heritage Open Days Free Tours of the Lit & Phil
Booking Now Open! Call 0191 232 0192 or email [email protected]
No online booking | Limited availability
Saturday 12 Sept | 10.30 am and 11.30am
Monday 14 Sept |2pm
Wednesday 16 Sept | 10.30 and 11.30
Thursday 17 Sept | 10.30am
Saturday 19 Sept | 10.30am and 11.30am
(Photo: Graeme Peacock)

Calling all inventors, dreamers and mythical creature makers... ✨What if Newcastle had its own legendary creatures? 🦄 Wh...
07/08/2026

Calling all inventors, dreamers and mythical creature makers... ✨

What if Newcastle had its own legendary creatures? 🦄 What if there was a magical invention that cleaned rivers, brought neighbours together or made the city a happier place? What if, what if, what if.....💭

At , anything is possible.

🛠️ The Lit & Phil Invention Challenge 2026: Myths & Legends with
📍 Outside Newcastle Civic Centre
📅 Saturday 8 August (11am–5pm) & Sunday 9 August (11am–4pm)
🎟️ FREE - just drop in

Join the brilliant Little Inventors team for a hands-on creative adventure for families and young people where you'll invent, draw and build brand-new myths and legends for modern-day Newcastle.
Using cardboard, recycled materials and BIG imaginations, create mythical creatures, magical places and legendary inventions that could change the world.
Perfect for curious kids, creative families and anyone who loves making stuff.

✨ Invent legendary creatures
🎨 Build incredible inventions
📚 Discover the magic behind myths and folklore
💭 Let your imagination run wild

This is all part of NOVUM Summer Festival - three days of free performances, giant installations, creativity, play and unforgettable moments taking over Newcastle city centre from 7–9 August.

Please note that all these events are only bookable via the Pudding Chare Music Festival website.
04/08/2026

Please note that all these events are only bookable via the Pudding Chare Music Festival website.

Address

23 Westgate Road
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE11SE

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 7pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 8pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 7pm
Thursday 9:30am - 7pm
Friday 9:30am - 5pm
Saturday 9:30am - 1pm

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